Apparatus for shaving elongated workpieces of circular cross section



Nov. 7, 1967 H. BRAUER ETAL 3,350,955

APPARATUS FOR SHAVING ELONGATED WORKPIECES OF CIRCULAR CROSS SECTION Filed June 8, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. 7

730 lob Hale: T Loee/vz Maw/WW 1967 H. BRAUER ETAL 3,350,965

APPARATUS FOR SHAVING ELONGATED WORKPIEGES 0F CIRCULAR CROSS SECTION Filed June 8, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent ()filice 3,350,965 Patented Nov. 7, 1967 3,350,965 APPARATUS FOR SHAVING ELONGATED WGRK- PEECES F CIRCULAR CROSS SECTION Hans Brauer and Horst Lorenz, Solingen, Germany, assignors to Th. Kieserling & Albrecht, Soiingen, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany Filed June 8, 1965, Ser. No. 462,228 Claims priority, application Germany, June 9, 1964, K 53,175 12 Claims. ((11. 82-20) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLUSURE An apparatus for removing material from the exterior of an elongated workpiece of circular cross section in which a pair of feed units driven by hydraulic drive means are arranged spaced from and aligned with each other to continuously advance the workpiece lengthwise and hold the same against rotation, and in which material removing means including at least one orbiting cutter is arranged between the feed units for removing material from the exterior of the workpiece which advances between the feed units.

The present invention relates to shaving or material removing apparatus in general, and more particularly to improvements in apparatus of the type which may be utilized for removing material from the exterior of solid or tubular rods and similar elongated workpieces of circular cross-sectional outline. Still more particularly, the invention relates to improvements in shaving apparatus of the type wherein a workpiece is fed lengthwise and is held against rotation while advancing past one or more orbiting cutters which remove material from the exterior of the workpiece.

In many heretofore known shaving apparatus, the workpiece is fed by two or more sets of rolls or the like, such rolls being mounted in part ahead of and in part beyond the actual shaving station. When the trailing end of a workpiece moves beyond the rolls which are located ahead of the shaving station, there normally occurs a short interruption in the feed which is highly unsatisfactory because the cutters will produce scratch marks which are difficult to remove even if the thus shaved workpieces are thereupon subjected to one or more additional precision finishing treatments, such as a second shaving operation, a polishing operation or the like.

Accordingly, it is an important object of the present invention to provide a shaving apparatus which is constructed and assembled in such a way that a workpiece which is fed lengthwise through and beyond the shaving station need not come to a halt at any stage of the shaving operation and wherein the mechanism which feeds the workpiece is of very simple, rugged, compact and inexpensive construction.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved hydraulically operated feed for use in a shaving apparatus of the just outlined characteristics.

A further object of the invention is to provide a shaving apparatus wherein all driven parts may receive motion from a single prime mover, wherein the rate of feed may be regulated with utmost precision, and wherein such rate of feed may be varied while the apparatus is in actual use.

An additional object of our invention is to provide a shaving apparatus wherein the workpiece is invariably held against rotation while it advances past the shaving station and wherein the workpiece need not be fed at a constant rate but is still capable of being shaved without scratches or similar defects.

A concomitant object of the invention is to provide a novel hydraulic circuit which may be incorporated in a shaving apparatus of the above outlined characteristics.

A further object of our invention is to provide a novel operative connection between the various feed units in a shaving apparatus of the above outlined characteristics.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a shaving apparatus which may be readily and rapidly converted for shaving of relatively long, relatively short, solid, tubular, large-diameter or small-diameter workpieces.

A further object of the invention is to provide a shaving apparatus which may be constructed and assembled to operate in a fully automatic way.

Briefly stated, one feature of our invention resides in the provision of an apparatus for removing material from the exterior of elongated workpieces of circular cross-sectional outline. Basically, the apparatus comprises a feed and a material removing device, such as a cylindrical shaving head with one or more orbiting cutters. The feed includes a first feed unit and a second feed unit which latter is spaced from, aligned with and located past the first unit. The two units are arranged to continuously feed the workpieces lengthwise and to hold such workpieces against rotation, and the feed further includes hydraulic drive means for the two units. The material removing device is disposed between the two feed units and its cutter or cutters orbit about the axis of a workpiece which travels between the two feed units.

The first feed unit, i.e., that unit which is located ahead of the shaving station, preferably comprises two serially arranged sets of feed rolls rotating about axes which are normal to the axis of a workpiece, and the second feed unit preferably comprises a reciprocable carriage which is provided with a clamping device capable of engaging with or being disengaged from the shaved portion of a workpiece. The arrangement is preferably such that the carriage is coupled to the workpiece and is positively driven no later than at the time when the trailing end of the workpiece has moved beyond the first set of feed rolls but is still engaged by the second set of such rolls so as to make sure that the workpiece is fed without any interruptions even through the rate of feed in response to actual coupling of the carriage to its drive might be diiferent from the rate of feed under the action of the one or the other set of feed rolls.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic of the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The improved shaving apparatus itself, however, both as to its construction and its mode of operation, together with additional features and advantages thereof, will be best understood upon perusal of the following detailed description of certain specific embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic side elevational view of a shaving apparatus which is constructed and assembled in accordance with a first embodiment of our invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the shaving apparatus; and

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of a modified shaving apparatus.

Referring first to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown an apparatus which is utilized for shaving of elongated solid cylindrical or tubular workpieces, particularly for shaving of metallic rods or tubes. The apparatus comprises a frame or support 1a which supports a rotary cylindrical shaving head 1. This shaving head is provided with shaving cutters 2 and is rotatable about a horizontal axis which coincides with the axis of an elongated workpiece 13. The means for driving the shaving head 1 comprises an electric motor 5 which drives a variable-speed transmission 4. The output shaft 4a of the transmission 4 drives a gear or pulley 3a which in turn drives an endless chain or belt 3, and the latter drives a gear or pulley on the shaving head 1. Thus, the speed at which the shaving cutters 2 orbit may be selected and regulated at the will of the operator, merely by adjusting the transmission 4. The output shaft 4d of this transmission further drives a gear or pulley 4b for a chain or belt 6 which latter drives a gear or pulley '7 on the input shaft 8 of an adjustable hydraulic pump 9. The pump 9 draws oil or another suitable hydraulic fluid from a tank 9a and delivers a stream of such fluid through a supply conduit 12a on to a hydraulic motor 12. The latter serves to drive a first feed unit including two sets of suitably profiled feed rolls 10, 10a and 11, 11a. The work-engaging faces of the feed rolls Iii-11a are preferably roughened or coated with layers of friction generating material to make sure that the workpiece 13 can be fed without slippage and without turning. It will be noted that the shafts 10b for the rolls 10, 10a and the shafts 11b for the rolls 11, 110 are journalled in the frame 1a, and the transmission between the hydraulic motor 12 and the shafts ltlb, 11b is such that the rotational speed of the first set of rolls 1%, 1th: exceeds the rotational speed of the second set of rolls 11, 11a. Freewheel or overrunning clutches 110 are provided between the feed rolls 11, 11a and their shafts 11b to make sure that the rolls 11, 11a can rotate at the speed of the feed rolls 1%, 18a as long as the workpiece 13- is engaged by all four pairs of such feed rolls. However, when the trailing end 13a of the workpiece moves beyond the first set of feed rolls 1%, 151a, the rpm. of the rolls 11, 11a decreases because the rolls 11, 11a are then driven at a speed which is determined by the transmission between their shafts 11b and the hydraulic motor 12. A normally closed adjustable pressure relief valve 9b is provided in a return line connecting the supply conduit 12a with the tank 9a.

The fluid issuing from the hydraulic motor 12 is conveyed through a discharge conduit 12/) and on to a twoway solenoid valve 14. This valve may feed hydraulic fluid to one of two pressure conduits 14a, 14!; leading to the ends of a reciprocable double-acting hydraulic cylinder 15 which is rigidly connected with a second feed unit including a carriage 16 mounted on a guide here shown as a roller conveyor 18 provided on the frame 1a. At least a portion of each of the pressure conduits 14a, 1412 consists of flexible material. The cylinder 15 accommodates a piston 15:: whose rod 15!) is connected to the frame 1a. The pressure conduit 14b is connected with a return line containing an adjustable pressure relief valve 17 which is normally closed but allows hydraulic fluid to return into the tank 9a when the pressure in the conduit 14b exceeds a predetermined value. A one-way valve 17a is installed in a further line which connects the pressure conduit 14a with the tank 9a.

The carriage 16 is provided with an adjustable clamping device 16:: which may be actuated by a hand wheel 16b or by another suitable actuating device and is capable of engaging and entraining or being entrained by the workpiece 13.

The operation of the shaving apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is as follows:

The leading end of the workpiece 13 is inserted between the first set of feed rolls 1% and 10a which are driven by the hydraulic motor 12. The circuit of the electric motor is completed by a starter switch (not shown) so that this motor drives the transmission 4, the input shaft 8 and the shaving head 1 with the cutters 2. The motor 12 drives the feed rolls 11a, and the solenoid valve 14 is adjusted in such a way that fluid passing through the discharge conduit 121: can flow through the pressure conduit 14b and into the left-hand chamber of the cylinder therefore, the cylinder 15 moves to its left-hand end position or starting position and entrains the carriage 16 in the same direction. Once the cylinder l 15 reaches such end position, the pressure of fluid in conduit 14b rises so that the relief valve 1'7 opens and allows surplus fluid to return into the tank 9a.

The workpiece 13 is advanced lengthwise by the first set of feed rolls 10, Ida and enters the gap defined by the second set of feed rolls 11, 11a. These feed rolls then begin to rotate at the exact speed of the feed rolls 10, 10a because the freewheel clutches 11c allow them to rotate at a speed which exceeds the speed determined by the transmission between the shafts 11b and the hydraulic motor 12. Once the leading end of the workpiece 13 reaches the orbiting cutters 2, its external surface is shaved in a well known manner and the shaved portion of the workpiece continues to advance through and beyond the shaving station occupied by the head 1 to enter the space between the jaws of the clamping device 16a on the carriage 16.

The clamping device 16a is inoperative so that the shaved portion of the workpiece 13 is free to pass therethrough; however, the operator will actuate the hand wheel 16b in a sense to apply the clam-ping device 16a before the trailing end 13a of the workpiece 13 moves beyond the first set of feed rolls 10, 16a or not later than at the time when the workpiece is advanced solely by the second set of feed rolls 11, 11a. As soon as the jaws of the clamping device enagage a shaved portion of the workpiece 13, the carriage 16 is compelled to advance in a direction to the right, as viewed in FIGS. 1 and 2, whereby the cylinder 15 shares such movement of the carriage and the piston 15a expels fluid from the left-hand chamber of the cylinder. Such fluid flows through the pressure conduit 14b and relief valve 17 to return into the tank 9a. Of course, the speed of the workpiece 13 decreases as soon as its trailing end 13a advances beyond the first set of feed rolls 10, 10a because the second set of feed rolls 11, 11a is then driven at a speed which is determined by the transmission between the motor 12 and shafts 11b and because such rotational speed of the rolls 11, 11a is less than the speed of the rolls 19, 10a.

Before the trailing end 13a moves beyond the feed rolls 11, 11a, the operator adjusts the solenoid valve 14 in such a way that the discharge conduit 12b is sealed from the pressure conduit 14]) but allows hydraulic fluid to flow into the pressure conduit 14a. The conduit 14a admits such fluid into the right-hand chamber of the cylinder .15 so that this cylinder now advances at a speed which is determined by the rate of fluid flow through the discharge conduit 12b. This rate of flow is preferably selected in such a way that the workpiece 13 begins to advance at a speed which is less than the speed determined by the first set of feed rolls 10, 10a but exceeds the speed determined by the second set of feed rolls 11, 11a. In other words, the speed of the workpiece 13 decreases when its trailing end 13a moves beyond the feed rolls 10, 10a but the speed of the workpiece will exceed the speed determined by the feed rolls 11, 11a and will be less than the speed determined by the feed rolls 10, 10a when the operator applies the clamping device 16a and changes the setting of the solenoid valve 14 in a sense to admit hydraulic fluid into the pressure conduit 14a, i.e., into the right-hand chamber of the cylinder 15.

A fresh workpiece may be inserted into the gap between the first set of feed rolls 10, 10a as soon as the trailing end 13a of the preceding workpiece is sufficiently distant from the feed rolls 10, 10a to prevent actual contact between such workpieces.

The area of work-engaging surfaces on the jaws of the clamping device 16a is large enough to insure that such surfaces can properly engage and will prevent rotation of the workpiece 13 without, however, causing scratches or other deformation or defacing of the shaved portion. Such precautions are not necessary insofar as the first unit including the feed rolls 1041a is concerned because these rolls engage that portion of the workpiece which is subsequently subjected to a shaving action, i.e., any marks or scratches produced by the faces of the rolls 1041a will be eliminated by the shaving cutters 2. The main function of the feed rolls -11a and of the feed carriage 16 is to continuously advance and to prevent rotation of the workpiece 13. The workpiece should not rotate because the shaving action is produced by the cutters 2 which are driven to orbit about the axis of the workpiece. The exact construction of the shaving head 1 forms no part of the present invention.

The setting of the solenoid valve 14 may be changed in automatic response to movement of the trailing end 13a beyond the first set of feed rolls 10, 10a, for example, by resorting to a connection which includes a photoelectric cell or the like. The means for opening or closing the jaws of the clamping device 16a in response to actuation of the hand wheel 16b preferably comprises one or more hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder and piston units or the like.

It will be noted that the hydraulic circuits of the feed rolls 10-11:: and carriage 16 are connected in series, i.e., that fluid which is used to drive the motor 12 thereupon flows through the discharge conduit 12b in order to shift the cylinder in the axial direction of the workpiece 13.

The shaving apparatus of FIG. 3 differentiates from the apparatus of FIGS. 1 and 2 in that the output shaft 4a of the transmission 4 drives two pumps including the afore-mentioned adjustable pump 9 which feeds fluid to the hydraulic motor 12 and a second adjustable pump 19 which feeds hydraulic fluid to the pressure conduits 14a and 1412. In addition, the apparatus of FIG. 3 comprises a second solenoid valve which regulates the flow of hydraulic fluid to and from the motor 12. The input shaft 8 of FIGS. 1 and 2 is replaced by a longer input shaft 8 which drives the pumps 9 and 19 and is driven by the output shaft 4a of the transmission 4.

In the illustrated left-hand end position or starting position of the carriage 16, fluid delivered by the pump 19 flows through the solenoid valve 14 and into the pressure conduit 14b. Since the left-hand chamber of the cylinder 15 is filled, such fluid opens the relief valve 17 and returns into the tank 9a. The supply conduit which delivers fluid from the outlet of the pump 19 to the solenoid valve 14 is indicated by the numeral 19a.

When the trailing end 13a of the workpiece 13 advances beyond the first set of feed rolls 10, 10a (only the rolls 10 are shown in FIG. 3), the solenoid valve 14 is adjusted in such a way that fluid can flow from the supply conduit 19a into the pressure conduit 14a to build up a requisite pressure in the right-hand chamber of the cylinder 15. The hand wheel 16b is actuated in a preceding step to apply the jaws of the clamping device (not shown in FIG. 3) so that the carriage 16 is compelled to advance with the workpiece 13 whereby the fluid which is expelled from the left-hand chamber of the cylinder 15 flows into the pressure conduit 14b and returns to the tank 9a via relief valve 17. The workpiece 13 is then advanced by the carriage 16 at a speed which preferably equals or at least approximates the speed of the feed rolls 11, 11a. In the apparatus of FIG. 3, the freewheel clutches 110 for the feed rolls 11, 11a may be dispensed with and the transmission between the motor 12 and the shafts 10b, 111; may drive the rolls 10, 10a, 11, 11a at the same speed. It is further preferred to provide the apparatus of FIG. 3 with a regulating device which will synchronize the output of the pump 9 with the output of the pump 19. The provision of such regulating device is of particular advantage when the two pumps are driven by the same shaft, i.e., when the pumps 9 and 19 are driven in a manner as actually shown in FIG. 3.

The motor 12 of FIG. 3 is of the reversible type so that it can drive the feed rolls 1041a in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction. The valve 20 may be actuated in a sense to drive the motor 12 in either direction or to allow fluid admitted through the supply conduit 12a to enter a return conduit 12c and to flow back into the tank 9a. In other words, the flow of fluid from the pump 9 may take place via conduits 12a, 12d, 12b, 120, via conduits 12a, 12b, 12a, 12c, or via conduits 12a, 120.

The improved shaving apparatus further comprises control valves, limit switches, starter switches and other accessories. All such accessories were omited for the sake of clarity.

As mentioned hereinbefore, it is already known to provide a shaving machine with sets of feed rolls or with sets of carriages which are located ahead of and past the shaving station. Also, proposals are known to provide mechanical and/ or electrical coupling devices which insure that all of the rolls or all of the carriages are driven at the same speed so that the workpiece may advance without interruptions. A serious drawback of shaving apparatus wherein the shaved portion of a workpiece is engaged by rolls is that such rolls are likely to damage the shaved surface excepting, of course, if their work-engaging faces are finished with utmost precision. This involves considerable expenses and, therefore, such shaving apparatus failed to gain acceptance in the industry. Furthermore, the area of contact between the feed rolls and the workpiece is relatively small so that a substantial number of rolls is needed to prevent rotation of a large-diameter workpiece whose shaved portion is engaged and advanced by rolls.

By the simple expedient of utilizing a first feed unit which comprises feed rolls and by utilizing a second feed unit which comprises a carriage, we provide a shaving machine wherein the shaved portion of a workpiece is not likely to be scratched or otherwise defaced and wherein the untreated portion of the workpiece may be gripped with a considerable force because any such deformation which is due to engagement of a workpiece by the feed rolls 1011a is eliminated by the shaving cutters 2. Also, it was found that the utilization of a hydraulic drive for the feed units constitutes a very simple and highly satisfactory solution to the problem of providing a rugged, long-lasting, reliable and inexpensive shaving machine because this hydraulic drive is cheaper, more compact and subject to less wear than a mechanical or electrical drive for the fed units. The drive which is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 constitutes a particularly simple and inexpensive solution because it requires a single pump and a single solenoid valve.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features which fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic and specific aspects of our contribution to the art and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the following claims.

What is claimed as new and by Letters Patent is:

1. In an apparatus for removing material from the exterior'of elongated workpieces of circular cross-sectional outline, a first feed unit including two serially arranged sets of feed rolls for advancing the workpieces lengthwise and for holding such workpieces against turning; a second feed unit constituted by a single carriage spaced from and located past said feed rolls and reciprocable in the axial direction of the workpieces; clamping means provided on said carriage for engaging a portion of a workpiece which is advanced by said feeds rolls; hydraulic drive means for operating said feed rolls and for reciprocating said carriage, said hydraulic drive means comprising a drive motor, hydraulic pump means driven by said drive motor, a hydraulic motor in circuit with said hydraulic pump means and connected to said feed rolls for driving the same, a double acting cylinder member, a pisdesired to be protected ton member in said cylinder member and dividing the latter into a pair of chambers, one of said members being fixed and the other member being connected to and reciprocating with said carriage, conduit means connecting said pump means with said chambers, and valve means in said conduit means for regulating flow of fluid into and out of said chambers to move thereby said carriage relative to said fixed member; and rotary material removing means provided between said feed units and comprising at least one orbiting cutter for removing material from a workpiece which advances between said feed units.

2. A structure as set forth in claim 1, wherein the drive motor for driving said pump further comprises means for rotating said material removing means.

3. A structure as set forth in claim 1, wherein said hydraulic motor has an inlet and an outlet and said valve means comprises a two-way valve, wherein said hydraulic pump means is a single hydraulic pump connected at the pressure side thereof to said inlet of said hydraulic motor, and wherein said conduit means comprises a conduit connecting said outlet of said hydraulic pump to said two-way valve and a pair of conduits respectively connecting said two-way valve with said chambers of said cylinder means.

4. A structure as set forth in claim 3, wherein said two-way valve is a solenoid operated valve.

5. A structure as set forth in claim 3, wherein said valve means comprise further a pair of relief valves respectively located in said pair of conduits.

6. A structure as set forth in claim 1, wherein said hydraulic pump means comprise two hydraulic pumps, one of said pumps being in circuit with said hydraulic motor and said conduit means connecting the other of said two pumps to said chambers of said cylinder member.

10 10. A structure as set forth in claim 9, further comprising freewheel clutch means provided in the power train between said motor means and said other set of rolls.

11. A structure as set forth in claim 9, wherein said 15 other set of rolls is located betwen said one set of rolls and said material removing means.

12. A structure as set forth in claim 11, wherein each set of rolls comprises at least one pair of cooperating rolls and wherein said rolls are rotatable about axes which go are normal to the axis of said material removing means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,334,887 11/1943 Siegerist 8220X 2,389,556 11/1954 Siegerist 82-20X 22,655,066 10/1953 Siegerist "82-20 FOREIGN PATENTS 917,202 l/l963 Great Britain. 993,422 5/1965 Great Britain. 1,121,903 1/1962 Germany.

HARRISON L. HINSON, Primary Examiner. 

1. IN AN APPARATUS FOR REMOVING MATERIAL FROM THE EXTERIOR OF ELONGATED WORKPIECES OF CIRCULAR CROSS-SECTIONAL OUTLINE, A FIRST FEED UNIT INCLUDING TWO SERIALLY ARRANGED SETS OF FEED ROLLS FOR ADVANCING THE WORKPICES LENGTHWISE AND FOR HOLDING SUCH WORKPIECES AGAINST TURNING; A SECOND FEED UNIT CONSTITUTED BY A SINGLE CARRIAGE SPACED FROM AND LOCATED PAST SAID FEED ROLLS AND RECIPROCABLE IN THE AXIAL DIRECTION OF THE WORKPIECES; CLAMPING MEANS PROVIDED ON SAID CARRIAGE FOR ENGAGING A PORTION OF A WORKPIECE WHICH IS ADVANCED BY SAID FEEDS ROLLS; HYDRAULIC DRIVE MEANS FOR OPERATING SAID FEED ROLLS AND FOR RECIPROCATING SAID CARRIAGE, SAID HYDRAULIC DRIVE MEANS COMPRISING A DRIVE MOTOR, HYDRAULIC PUMP MEANS DRIVEN BY SAID DRIVE MOTOR, A HYDRAULIC MOTOR IN CIRCUIT WITH SAID HYDRAULIC PUMP MEANS AND CONNECTED TO SAID FEED ROLLS FOR DRIVING THE SAME, A DOUBLE ACTING CYLINDER MEMBER, A PISTON MEMBER IN SAID CYLINDER MEMBER AND DIVIDING THE LATTER INTO A PAIR OF CHAMBERS, ONE OF SAID MEMBERS BEING FIXED AND THE OTHER MEMBER BEING CONNECTED TO AND RECIPROCATING WITH SAID CARRIAGE, CONDUIT MEANS CONNECTING SAID PUMP MEANS WITH SAID CHAMBERS, AND VALVE MEANS IN SAID CONDUIT MEANS FOR REGULATING FLOW OF FLUID INTO AND OUT OF SAID CHAMBERS TO MOVE THEREBY SAID CARRIAGE RELATIVE TO SAID FIXED MEMBER; AND ROTARY MATERIAL REMOVING MEANS PROVIDED BETWEEN SAID FEED UNITS AND COMPRISING AT LEAST ONE ORBITING CUTTER FOR REMOVING MATERIAL FROM A WORKPIECE WHICH ADVANCES BETWEEN SAID FEED UNITS. 